Independent University Newspaper
Copenhagen Business School

Popular searches:

Independent University Newspaper

Copenhagen Business School

Flower power

Wall stickers with flowers

(Photo: Anne Thora Lykkegaard)

The art duo Orkidé has decorated 270 square meters of CBS’ buildings with flowers in bloom to welcome students and employees. The flowers symbolize transformation, growth and new beginnings.

News |   27. Aug 2021

Anne Thora Lykkegaard

Journalist

The August sun shines brightly through the tall glass façade at The Wedge, and on the slate-grey floor, purple and green reflections of flowers come to life.

For study and semester start, the glass facades of CBS’ various entrances have been decorated in meter-tall transparent stickers with colorful motifs of flowers in bud and bloom by the Danish art duo Orkidé as part of the grand campaign called The Welcome Project.

“The past 1.5 years have introduced radical changes – maybe the biggest one in our work and study lives. We have had to take care of ourselves and each other. At CBS, we decorated the entrances with blue dots to symbolize that coronavirus was still around, and it all had a timid touch,” explains Marie Elisabeth Pade Andersen, Senior Adviser at the Department of Executive Support and Communications (SLK), and adds:

“Therefore, the semester start called for a quite different message; we are being brought back together and new things can happen. To me, that’s what the flowers symbolize. A new start, energy, diversity and transformation.”

Shadows and sunlight inside
(Photo: Anne Thora Lykkegaard)
Window sticker with flowers
(Photo: Anne Thora Lykkegaard)

The idea for the decoration of about 270 square meters of CBS’ entrances came about a bit by coincidence, explains Johanne Lykke from Orkidé.

“During the second lockdown this spring, we reached out to CBS because we wanted to decorate the glass fence facing Smallegade. We thought it belonged to CBS and reached out to ask for permission, but it turned out that it was Frederiksberg Municipality’s fence, and they said no to the idea. But shortly after, the architect from CBS, Maria Hansen Møller reached out and asked if we would be interested in drawing up a draft for CBS,” she says.

Women in blue dressed

The duo from Orkidé, Nina Elizabeth and Johanne Lykke, came to CBS on the day of the exhibition review to see their artwork in full scale. (Photo: Anne Thora Lykkegaard)

Marie Elisabeth Pade Andersen explains that the ‘There’s an us in campus’ campaign, which featured the blue dots, was the first of its kind where the exterior of CBS’ buildings played an active part in the communication. Therefore, when The Welcome Project was in its start phase, it was “obvious” that the buildings should be brought back into play.

“We just really wanted to do something special for this semester start to symbolize the return of employees and students to campus. That campus will be blooming with life again,” says Marie Elisabeth Pade Andersen.

Window sticker with flowers
(Photo: Anne Thora Lykkegaard)

The artwork comes alive

The two artists, Johanne Lykke and Nina Elizabeth from Orkidé work with the merging of art and nature, and they hope to bring nature and what it represents to CBS.

“A lot of the flowers have not fully bloomed, but the taller they get, the more they bloom. It is a metaphor for the students. They are constantly growing while studying, and if they have optimal conditions, they will bloom both as people and students,” says Johanne Lykke.

Nina Elizabeth, who is the other part of the duo in Orkidé, hopes to give students, employees and the locals a different experience of CBS buildings and bring the campus to life.

Window sticker with flowers
(Photo: Anne Thora Lykkegaard)
Reflections of flowers on floor
(Photo by Mette Koors)

“When the sun is shining, I like to think that the artwork comes alive. One day you see them in cloudy weather, and the next day the sun brings out their true colors. They are not static,” she says and continues:

“Personally, I like that the artwork can show CBS from a different perspective. That CBS is not all corporate and serious but dares to bring in the softness of nature. And I think that’s relevant too for CBS’ students and employees. Nature and economy are linked.”

Johanne Lykke adds:

“I hope that everyone entering CBS will feel that their energy is renewed, and that the colors lighten the atmosphere and welcome people.”

Rays of sunlight
(Photo: Anne Thora Lykkegaard)
Window sticker with flowers
(Photo: Anne Thora Lykkegaard)

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Flower powerby

  • News

    Why so sudden? The CBS financial crisis explained

    Employees and union representatives have posed many questions in the wake of the 17 August announcement of a firing round. In this interview, University Director Arnold Boon explains how Senior Management has been working with the budget and a change of financial strategy since the fall of 2022, and why layoffs are now necessary.

  • Blog

    Uncertain times: Essential for business schools to understand their market

    The alliance of European business schools met at CBS in June to enhance recruitment strategies, stay informed on industry trends, and analyse where the global economy is heading. The CBS MBA Programmes shares some key take-aways from Associate Dean and Professor Jesper Rangvid’s presentation.

  • News

    Working hard all summer: Bachelor Admissions

    The employees in charge of bachelor admissions at CBS are a small exclusive team. They ensure the validity of diplomas and the fulfilment of entry requirements for bachelor’s degrees at CBS – and, not least, that the applicants get the necessary help to upload the right documentation and find their way around the application procedures.

  • News

    Union reps want transparency about redundancy packages

    The unions are hoping for a fair process – and the AC club is calling for transparency about redundancy packages. Academic union representatives expect that actual dismissals can be avoided among faculty members, whereas administrative staff are expecting layoffs.

  • Gif of the week
  • News

    Snapshots: CBS staff busy preparing for a new semester

    For the staff at CBS, the weeks and sometimes even months leading up to study start are spent busily preparing for new and returning students and a brand-new semester.

  • Guide

    Those odd little words

    Some words of advice from CBS WIRE’s proofreader Helen Dyrbye, a British expat who has lived in Denmark for decades. Here she explains a few tiny words that can occasionally spell BIG trouble.

  • News

    Community is key for study start 2023

    This year, showing both new and returning students the concept of ‘community’ at CBS is a top priority. There is room for everyone, and you can find others that share the same interests as you. Those are the key messages from the Student Communications team. This is highlighted by two campaigns, during the introduction week and at the Bachelor Kick Off.

Follow CBS students studying abroad

CBS WIRE collaborates with Videnskab.dk

Stay connected

Close